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Publication Date
1972
Series Number
Bulletin 3861
Abstract
The systematic investigations of the potential of the Ord area for irrigated farming began during the Second World War when the possibilities of damming the river were first examined, initial soil survey was carried out, and agricultural experiments started. The Kimberley Research Station was established on its present site in 1945. A year later the State and Commonwealth Governments agreed to finance and operate the Station jointly, with CSIRO and the Western Australian Department of Agriculture being responsible for research.
The construction of the main dam designed to store 5,675 million m" ( 4.6 million acre feet) was completed in 1971 and further development of irrigated crop and pastoral production is currently under consideration.
Since publication of the last Progress Report in 1968, cotton has continued to receive considerable emphasis in the Station's research programme. However, the research on other crops and irrigated pastures was intensified to find possible means of diversifying the production. Apart from detailed experiments carried out at the Station itself, its staff is collaborating with the Department of Agriculture and the farmers in testing new crops and new methods on a larger scale.
By 1960 the research showed cotton to be a sound commercial crop for the area and construction of the Stage 1 of the Ord Irrigation Project commenced. The first commercial cotton crop was grown by five pioneer farmers in the 1963-64 season on 550 ha (1360 ac), producing 275 tonnes (1220 bales) of lint. In 1970- 71 3920 tonnes (17,600 bales) were produced on 3600 ha (8900 ac). Between 1963 and 1971 the average yields increased from 502 kg/ha (448 lb/ac) to 1093 kg/ha (975 lb/ac).
Number of Pages
19
Publisher
Western Australian Department of Agriculture
City
Perth
Keywords
Kimberley, Research, Soils, Climate, Cotton, Rangeland management
Disciplines
Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Biosecurity | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Plant Biology | Plant Breeding and Genetics | Plant Pathology | Soil Science | Sustainability | Water Resource Management
Recommended Citation
McAlpine, J R,
Gunn, R H,
Jakobsen, P,
Wetselaar, R,
Basinski, J J,
Thomson, N J,
Wilson, A G,
Mackenzie, D H,
Millington, A J,
Beech, D F,
Owen, P C,
Williams, B G,
Blunt, C G,
and
Holm, A M.
(1972), Bulletin No 3861 - Kimberley Research Station - Progress report 1972. Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Perth. Bulletin Bulletin 3861.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bulletins3/18
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Agribusiness Commons, Agricultural Economics Commons, Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Biosecurity Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Sustainability Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
A progress report on research at Kimberley Research Station, Kununurra, Western Australia. Previous reports were published in 1950, 1958, 1960, 1965, 1968.